Dates for the London Global Conference for Media Freedom announced

In a series of publicity videos for World Press Freedom Day, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced the dates for the first Global Conference for Media Freedom on 10 – 11 July, in London. In a statement released on his Twitter page this morning, Hunt urged: “If we believe in media freedom as one of the fundamental bastions of a free society then we need to stand up and talk about the dangers that journalists now face.” The UK and Canadian government have announced a partnership, with Chrystia Freeland, Canadian Minister of Foreign…Read more

Only nine percent of humankind lives in a country where press freedom is good

On World Press Freedom Day, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) points out that less than ten percent of the world’s population is now living in countries where journalists enjoy a favourable environment and are able to practice their profession freely and independently. Only 9% of humankind lives in a country where RSF regards the level of press freedom as either good or satisfactory – a country coloured either white or yellow on the World Press Freedom Map that is derived from the 2019 World Press Freedom Index unveiled by RSF on 18 April. Seventy-four percent of…Read more

Publication of 2019 World Press Freedom Index

Published every year since 2002 by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the World Press Freedom Index is an important advocacy tool based on the principle of emulation between states. Because it is well known, its influence over governments is growing. The Index is a point of reference that is quoted by media throughout the world and is used by diplomats and international entities such as the United Nations and the World Bank. WHAT DOES IT MEASURE? The Index ranks 180 countries and regions according to the level of freedom available to journalists. It is a snapshot of the…Read more
Tanzania imposes 7-day publication ban on The Citizen

Tanzania imposes 7-day publication ban on The Citizen

Authorities in Tanzania should lift a seven-day publication ban on the privately owned newspaper The Citizen and allow journalists to report on matters of public interest freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The Information Services Department, which oversees newspaper licenses, temporarily suspended the publication license of The Citizen on February 27, on accusations that it published reports that were false, misleading, and seditious, according to media reports. The suspension order relates to an article on the state of Tanzanian democracy, published in July, and an article on the country's currency, published last month, according to a report by The Citizen's sister…Read more

Verbal and physical onslaught against private TV station by Zambia’s ruling party

The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) firmly condemns the recent attacks by affiliates of Zambia's ruling, Patriotic Front (PF) party against Prime Televisionbased in the capital, Lusaka.  The privately owned TV station has come under attack following its reportage on the Sesheke parliamentary by-elections.  On January 26, 2019, the Secretary General of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party, Davies Mwila, dismissed Prime TV reporters from a press briefing he was addressing. He also declared publicly that Prime Television is barred from covering all activities of his political party. The comments by the Secretary General of PF has…Read more
IPC Nigeria condemns attacks on journalists during elections

IPC Nigeria condemns attacks on journalists during elections

The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos has expressed strong concern over reported incidents of attacks on journalists and other media professionals during the Presidential and Senatorial elections held on Saturday February 23, 2019. Information gathered by IPC's media and election situation room revealed that not less than five journalists and media professionals faced one form of harassment or the other including arrest, denial of access to collation centres and gunshot injury. The details of these incidents include, the arrest of Nwanosike Onu of The Nation, Geoffrey Anyanwu of the Sun, David-Chyddy Eleke of THISDAY, Vincent Ujumadu of Vanguard and Tony…Read more
Ugandan regulator orders news website suspended and threatens criminal charges

Ugandan regulator orders news website suspended and threatens criminal charges

Ugandan authorities should withdraw a directive ordering the suspension of the Daily Monitor news website, retract a threat of criminal proceedings against the publication, and refrain from using regulations to retaliate against journalists covering sensitive political issues, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On February 6, the Uganda Communications Commission, a broadcasting and telecommunications sector regulator, wrote a letter to the Daily Monitor's parent company, Monitor Publications Limited, ordering the company to immediately suspend publication of its news website, according to a copy of the letter seen by CPJ. The letter said that the Monitor had not…Read more
Uganda: BBC journalists ‘facing trumped up charges’

Uganda: BBC journalists ‘facing trumped up charges’

Human Rights Network for Journalists Uganda On 8 February 2019, police in Kampala released three British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) journalists, their driver and a wife to NBS's senior investigative journalist Solomon Serwanjja after spending two nights in police custody. They were released on police bond on charges of being in "unlawful possession of classified government drugs".  The journalists are; Kassim Mohammed, Rashid Kaweesa, Godfery Badebye of BBC, their driver Shafik who were arrested on Wednesday night and Vivian Nakaliika Serwanjja - Serwanjja's wife.  Meanwhile, Solomon Serwanjja also arrived at the Central Police Station…Read more

Investigative journalist Ahmed Divela shot dead in Ghana

Authorities in Ghana should immediately investigate the killing of journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale Divela and ensure that threats against the press are taken seriously, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Two men riding a motorcycle shot and killed Divela, a member of Tiger Eye Private Investigations, an investigative journalism outlet led by Anas Aremeyaw Anas, as he was driving in the capital, Accra, yesterday, according to media reports and a video posted on Twitter by Anas. The journalist had told CPJ in September 2018 that people had attempted to attack him and that he feared for his life…Read more
Cameroonian journalist Paul Chouta attacked outside his home

Cameroonian journalist Paul Chouta attacked outside his home

Cameroonian authorities should immediately investigate an attack on Paul Chouta, a reporter for the privately owned news website Cameroon Web, and ensure that those who assaulted him are swiftly brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Chouta told CPJ yesterday that three unknown men stabbed him with a knife and beat him as he left his Yaoundé home just after 6 a.m. that day. The journalist was treated for stab wounds to his right hand and elbow and bruises to his face. "They didn't say anything as they started to physically attack…Read more